Valve-gear for ore-stamps



r l (No Model.)

v '4 Sheets-Sheet 1. l E.-REYNOLDS f VALVE GEAR FOR ORE STAMPS. v

No. 377,578. Patented Feb. 7,1888.

(No Model) 4'Sh'etsSheet 2. I

E. REYNOLDS.

' VALVE GEAR POR'ORE STAMPS.

No. 377,578. Patented Feb. 7, 1888.

MPETEHB. M W

(No Model.) v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4,1 7

' E. REYNOLDS. I

VALVE GEAR FOR ORE STAMPS. No. 377,578. v Patented F b..7, 1888.

minesses: I E 9 Mg I 1 8 4 A I Malays.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DWIN REYNOLDS, or MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin.-

VALVE-GEAR FOR ORE-STAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 377,578, dated February 7, 188

Application filed February 10, 1887. Serial No. 227,241. (No model.)

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a stamp embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the upper part of the same; Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, views illustrating features and details hereinafter explained.

For the purpose of making clearer the design and operation of my invention it is proper to explain somewhat the construction now generally adopted and the practical difficulty attending the same, which my invention is designed to overcome.

A feature in all steam-stamps, from the earliest Ball stamp to'those of recent make, is the driving of the valve-gear independently of the stamp itself.

Heretofore a single D-valve has been employed to govern the inlet and outlet of steam at both ends of the cylinder, said valve being controlled or operated by an ordinary eccentrio or circular cam, the shaft of which in turn has been rotated by eccentric-gears and a driving-pulley belted to a line of shaft in the stamp mill. Under such construction and arrangement the pulley-shaft rotates at a uniform speed, and the eccentric or cam is so set, with relation to the eccentricgears that the valve has its slowest motion when the cam is up and its quickest motion when the cam is downmotions corresponding somewhat with those of the stamp itself. .The throw of the valve is such as to give a wide port at the top for the downstroke, but only a partial opening at the bottom for-the upstroke, the extent of such opening varying in different stamps, andbeing governed by the length of the lower toe of the D-valve. The length of this toe is found by a cut-and-try process, and when found is of course right for but one steam-pressure, any

of the cylinder and each controlling the inletand outlet of steam at the end to which it is applied-and I operate these valves by the same arrangement of eccentric and eccentricgears before mentioned and now generally employed in this class of stamps.

In addition to the lower valve, I provide a reducing-valve adapted to be controlled manually, through which the steam must pass before it can reach the lower steam-valve; hence the reducing-valve gives an ever-ready com-.

mand over the force which lifts the stamp, whatever may be the pressure of steam above the piston or as it comes to the reducing-valve.

It is obvious that it is by no means essential that oscillating valves be used, that the particular form of reducing-valve is unimpor- V tant, and that in other details the construction may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings, A indicates a suitable upright frame, carrying at its top the steam-cylinder B, within which moves the piston of the stamp-rod, which rod is constructed and guided as usual, and carries atits lower end a hammer or ram, 0.

D indicates the mortar or hopper which contains the ore, and E the anvil upon whioh'the ore rests while being crushed beneath the blow of the stam p.

Shortly below and somewhat in front of thecylinder B is a horizontalshaft, F, and below this is a second shaft, G, both shafts provided with elliptic gears, respectively indicated by the letters H and I, which transmit motion'to. shaft F from shaft G, the latterbeing provided with a band-wheel and an idler, J and K, to receive a belt from any convenient motor.

Thus far the construction is the same as in other machines of this class, shaft F being the usual eccentric-shaft.

L indicates the stemof an oscillatingvalve controlling theinlet and outlet of steam at the upper end of cylinder B, said stem being pro- ICO vided with a lateral arm, a, which is connected by a pitman, M, with a strap, 12, encircling an eccentric, N, on shaft F, the rotation of the shaft thus serving to give the proper rocking motion to the steam-valve.

0 indicates the stem of a similar oscillating valve controlling the induction and eduction of steam at the lower end of cylinder B. The stem 0 is provided with a radial arm, a, which is connected bya pitman, P, with a strap, d, encircling a second eccentric, Q, also secured upon shaft F, and consequently rotating therewith and with eccentric N.

Itindicates a steam-pipe connecting the two steanrvalve chests or chambers and serving to convey steam to each, the pressure in said pipe being of course that at which the steam comes from the boiler.

At a convenient point between the two induction and eduction valves, both of which exhaust into and through a common chamber, S, provided with an outlet, S, a reducing valve, T, is placed in or across the steam-pipe R, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The form or construction of this valve may be varied at will, though I prefer to employ the wedgevalve, known to the trade as the Chapman valve, and which consists of a gate having its rear face inclined and the whole made movable across the opening in its case or shell by means of a screw capable of rotation, but held against longitudinal movement. A simple plug-valve may be used, but not to so good advantage.

In order to adjust the valve with nicety when required, and yet permit it to be quickly tipened or closed if need be, I adopt the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, the general relation of parts being best illustrated in Fig. 3, which is a bottom plan view showing the valve arranged to work vertically, moving upward to close and downward to open. It will, however, be understood that this position is a mere matter of convenience, and may be varied as desired.

T indicates the stem of the reducing-valve T, which stem has keyed upon its outer enda crank or radial arm, U, into the outer end of which is screwed or otherwise secured a tubular handle, V, the outer end of which is closed and provided with a notch or notches, 6.

Within the tubular handle V is a coiled spring, f, and passing centrally through the spring and handle is a rod or stem, 9, having a boss or enlargement, 71, near its inner end, to fit the interior of the handle V and. receive the pressure of the spring, a stud, a, projecting beyond the face of the boss or collar 71, and a knob, 9', made fast upon the outer end of the rod or stem 9, and formed with a lug or lugs, k, to enter and fit the notch or notches e of the handle V.

By drawing out the knob j until the lug 7c clears the notch e, and then giving the knob a short turn, the projecting stud or inner end,

i, of rod 9 may be drawn and held within the tubular handle V.

Encircling and fitting nicely upon the hub of crank-arm ,U is a worm wheel or disk, W, which is held snugly to its place by a collar bearing against one face and a flange of the crank-hub bearing against the other face, as shown in Fig. 4; or it may be held in any equivalent manner which will permit the wheel to rotate upon or with the hub, but prevent movement in any other direction.

The worm-wheel is rotated gradually and evenly by means of a worm or screw, Y, meshing with the worm-wheel NV, and furnished with a hand-whee], Z, the worm or screw shaft being journaled in suitable supports attached to the frame-work of the machine.

Connection is made between the worm'wheel and the valve-stem, when the latter is to be turned by the worm-wheel and screw, by means of the rod or stem 9 entering one of a series of sockets or recesses, m, in the face of the worm-wheel, said rod or stem being carried by the tubular hand-piece V, and this in turn being carried by the arm U, which is keyed or secured upon the valve stem.

If at any time it be desired to turn the valve-stem quickly-as, for instance, to fully open or close the valveit is only necessary to draw out the knob j to withdraw stud i from its seat in a recess of the worm-wheel, turn the knob to hold the rod or stem g out, and then rotate the valve-stem to any extent desired by means of handle V alone.

Instead of worm-gear, ordinary toothed gear may be employed to rotate the valve-stem, though the worm-gear is preferred. So, too, it might in some cases be sufficient to provide the valve-stem with merely the ordinary handwheel. In other words, the essential feature of my invention consists in combining a reducing-valve with the valve which controls the induction of steam at the lower end of a stamp-cylinder, and this I claim, whether one or more valves be employed to control the induction and eduction ports at either or both ends of the cylinder.

I am aware that it has been proposed to employ a throttle-valve between the boiler and cylinder of a steam-pump, whereby to regulate the quantity of steam supplied to the cylinder above the piston, and to combine therewith valves located between the slide-valve and the cylinder to check the exhaust from either end of the cylinder independently of the other, such construction necessitating the use of check-valves to prevent too sudden exhaust, but to admit free ingress of steam. This I do not claim.

Having thus described my invention and particularly set out its preferred form, I claim- 1. In combination with the steam-cylinder and piston of an ore-stamp, asteam-pipe communicating with the induction-ports of both ends of the cylinder, oscillating inductionsteam-valve at the lower end of the cylinder,

gearing for rotating the reducing-valve stem gradually and evenly, and a connection. between said gearing and the valve-stem adapted to be released when desired, to permit the direct operation of the valve-stem.

3. The combination, substantially as herein described and shown, of the steam-cylinderB of an ore-stamp, steam-pipe R, steam-valves at the upper and lower ends of the cylinder, valvegear, substantially such as described and'shown, for actuating said valves, a reduoing-valve, T, located in the steam-pipe near the lower steam-valve, arm U, secured upon the stem of the reducing-valve and provided with handle V, having notch 6, spring f, and rod 9 within said handle, the latter provided with lug k, worm-wheel W, encircling the valve-stem and provided with re- 30 or screw shaft Y.

cesses m, and worm EDWIN REYNOLDS.

Witnesses:

WM. W. ALLIs, EDW. P. ALLIs, Jr. 

